I'm a fan of Keen sandals and have owned a pair of standard Newports and Newport H2's for 10 years. I'm new to the Venice shoes, but they seem to have a lot in common with the classic Newports, like the anatomical insole, elastic strap, signature toe guard, and chunky, grippy outsole. The main difference is that the Venice model has one less strap and is therefore more airy and open, leading to some unexpected changes. The fit differs slightly from the Newports in two places: the bungee attachment points are configured differently, the Venice feels a little looser overall, and the large opening on the side (where the pinky sits) is fairly close to the top . The toe is such that if the shoe is too big, that toe can accidentally slip out (if you're not wearing socks). It's worth noting that style #1002319 applies to standard Venice sandals, NOT H2. While all Keen sandals are waterproof in the sense that they won't fall apart even after being in the water for long periods of time, the standard sandals focus more on comfort on land. The H2 has a polyester upper and a rubberized insole that definitely dries faster than the leather upper and microprotection treated insole of the standard model. I've only had them for a few weeks so can't comment on durability but if they are like my previous Newports I would expect them to last for years without issue. In my opinion, Keen sandals are comfortable, versatile and multifunctional. They work great on the beach, hiking, biking (the laces don't snag, fingers are protected), in the water, and around town. Keen also sells a fairly wide range of sandals, like the SOLR line, which is more water-focused than the H2, and the Arroyo line, which is more hiking-focused.